Clarkson, Hammond and May show support for doctor’s #hellomynameis campaign

James May supporting the campaign.

Published:10:24Updated:10:43Monday 18 July 2016

A trio of famous faces have added their weight to a terminally-ill doctor’s patient empowerment campaign.

Former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have been pictured holding up personalised #hellomynameis signs in a nod to Dr Kate Granger from East Ardsley.

Amid their busy schedule filming for the upcoming Amazon series The Grand Tour, Clarkson tweeted images of him and his co-hosts showing their support for the campaign.

The tweet to his 6.3million followers read: “Very happy to be involved with this. #hellomynameis.”

Dr Granger launched the campaign to encourage medical workers to introduce themselves after her own experiences as a patient.

The consultant, who works at Wakefield’s Pinderfields Hospital, was diagnosed with a rare type of sarcoma which attacks the tissue supporting the internal organs in 2011.

Jeremy Clarkson.

Some 400,000 doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists and porters across 90 organisations are now backing the drive that has also received high-profile support from a number of celebrities.

The success of the campaign, which has been backed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, saw her pick up the Special Achievement Award at the BMJ Awards in London earlier this year.

Dr Granger responded to Clarkson’s tweet by saying: “Thank you all for getting involved. It really means a lot.”

In her blog, she explains that #hellomynameis came about after she made the “stark observation” that many staff failed to introduce themselves to patients.

Richard Hammond.

She said: “This felt very wrong so, encouraged and supported by my husband, we decided to start a campaign to encourage and remind healthcare staff about the importance of introductions in the delivery of care.

“I firmly believe it is not just about knowing someone’s name, but it runs much deeper. It is about making a human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust.

“In my mind it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care.”